The Yankees’ offseason so far has felt like a deep breath before the plunge - quiet, deliberate, and just tense enough to keep the fanbase on edge. Aside from locking in Amed Rosario and bringing back Paul Blackburn on a low-risk, one-year deal, the Bronx front office has been relatively quiet.
But make no mistake: this isn’t inactivity. It’s strategy.
Brian Cashman and his team aren’t just sitting on their hands - they’re playing the long game. Rather than jumping into a frenzied market and overpaying for players who may not move the needle, the Yankees are letting the market come to them. It’s a high-stakes waiting game, and it’s setting the stage for what could be a defining offseason for the next five years of Yankees baseball.
The Cody Bellinger Waiting Game
At the center of it all is Cody Bellinger - a player who fits this Yankees roster like a glove, but only if the price is right. Right now, Bellinger’s camp is aiming high, reportedly looking for a massive long-term deal.
But the market isn’t exactly cooperating. Teams are being cautious, and the Yankees know it.
They’re betting that patience - and a little bit of leverage - will bring Bellinger back to the Bronx on their terms.
And the fit? It’s hard to argue.
Bellinger’s 2025 season showed he still has plenty in the tank. He hit .272 with 29 home runs, and his swing plays beautifully in Yankee Stadium, especially with that short porch in right.
Sure, his power metrics have dipped - he sat in the 24th percentile for average exit velocity and 26th for hard-hit rate - but his contact skills are elite. A strikeout rate in the 91st percentile tells you he’s still making consistent, smart contact, even if he’s not crushing the ball like he once did.
Defensively, Bellinger remains a difference-maker. He ranked in the 93rd percentile for outfield range, which gives the Yankees a ton of flexibility.
With his glove, they can rotate players through the DH spot and keep legs fresh over a long season. He’s not just a bat - he’s a roster-balancing piece that complements the Yankees’ current core.
Eyes on Freddy Peralta
Once the Yankees shore up the outfield - and Bellinger feels like the logical move there - the next big swing could come in the rotation. And that’s where Freddy Peralta enters the picture.
The Yankees and Brewers have already done business recently, most notably in the Devin Williams deal that saw Nestor Cortes and Caleb Durbin head to Milwaukee. That pipeline could stay open, especially with the Yankees in need of a frontline starter.
Paul Blackburn adds depth, sure, but he’s not the kind of arm that changes a postseason rotation. Peralta is.
The numbers jump off the page: a 17-6 record, 2.70 ERA, and 204 strikeouts in 2025. But it’s the advanced metrics that really show how dominant Peralta was.
He ranked in the 97th percentile in pitching run value and 96th in offspeed run value - meaning he’s not just overpowering hitters, he’s outsmarting them, too. He’s got the stuff and the command to carve up any lineup, and he’s doing it in his prime.
Pairing Peralta with Gerrit Cole would give the Yankees one of the most formidable one-two punches in the American League - a combo that could go toe-to-toe with anyone come October.
The Price Tag
Of course, talent like that doesn’t come cheap. If the Yankees want Peralta, it’s going to cost them - probably in the form of young, controllable arms and high-upside prospects.
Expect names like Will Warren or Luis Gil to be in the conversation. Both are close to MLB-ready and could appeal to a Brewers team looking to retool without rebuilding.
And if Milwaukee is pushing for more, the Yankees may have to part with a top-tier prospect like Spencer Jones or even Jasson Dominguez. It wouldn’t be easy, but that’s the cost of adding an ace.
This is the kind of move that signals you're all in. The Yankees know their window is open.
With Aaron Judge in his prime, Juan Soto in pinstripes, and Gerrit Cole anchoring the rotation, the time to strike is now. Adding Bellinger and Peralta would send a clear message: this team isn’t just trying to make the playoffs - it’s built to win in October.
So while the offseason may feel quiet on the surface, don’t mistake that for inactivity. The Yankees are moving - carefully, deliberately, and with their eyes on the big picture. If the pieces fall into place, this could be the kind of winter that reshapes the franchise for years to come.